Delroy ChuckAS THE year 2004 draws to a close, we should take time to reflect and assess, in the life of the nation, how closer we are to any national goal. True, everyone now talks of vision and mission, and in this year's budget debate, the government members spoke collectively of a vision of one nation, one people, but failed to demonstrate meaningful ways and means to make that vision anything other than mere words.
At the end of the year, we are presented with an Education Reform Report to transform the educational system in ten years, but will its goals be as elusive as the well-meaning National Industrial Plan, announced in 1995, that should have transformed our economy in ten years by annual growth of 6 per cent? Sadly, in our 43rd year of nationhood, we seem to lack any sense of meaningful purpose and realistic direction, drifting aimlessly, declining to lower levels of failure instead of steadily moving forward and, definitely, lacking any coalescing national effort to motivate our people to higher levels of achievement.
HOW WONDERFUL
How wonderful it would be if our nation could have reasonable goals that would galvanise the people and, consequently, lift the quality of life everywhere. For example, there are simple goals, such as a national effort to make Jamaica the nicest and cleanest place in the Western Hemisphere that would not unduly burden the budget but could lift the spirit of everyone. Imagine, if the Cabinet and parliamentarians set the tone and example to clean up and beautify their constituencies, the tremendous impact and improvement it would have on the national spirit.
Sustainable development is unlikely, however, until we get the economics right, and that is why economic development has to be a priority over everything else. Let those who believe we can build a great, even a good, nation on values and attitudes, education of our children, reduction of crime and violence, fixing our roads and other infrastructure, etc., tell me how we can achieve even one of them without an economy that is flourishing. It is a thriving and prosperous economy that provides the means of sustenance and the jobs and opportunities to bring decency, discipline and dignity to people's lives. In a nutshell, Jamaica needs hundreds of billions of dollars, and it can only come from investment and production.
We need to work and earn our way in the world. We cannot continue on the world stage with our begging bowls seeking loans and assistance which, regrettably, have become our main sources of funding. Virtually everything will elude us unless we have the money to secure its achievement.
ADDITIONAL ANNUAL
EXPENDITURE
The Education Report outlines the need for 22 billion dollars additional annual expenditure, where is that money to come from? Hurricane Ivan caused over 30 billion dollars damage, how much has been diverted or pledged to deal with the repairs and rehabilitation? Our hospitals are actually in shambles, without adequate medicine and the basic equipment to properly function, and if the truth be known need tens of billions to bring them up to par with first world standards.
Our police lack enough vehicles and equipment, work under subhuman conditions in many stations and, without proper training and professionalism, unable to stem the rising crime and violence. Our road network desperately needs billions of dollars to avoid the present roller coaster ride and damage to most vehicles from using them. Where is all this money to come from if we don't set economic development as our national priority?
We rejoice in Highway 2000, which is a monumental achievement and provides the base for more investment and production, but for the next 35 years will pay for it, which means money leaves the country instead of coming in. If Highway 2000 is to become beneficial, we need investment and development along its corridors to grow the economy. At the same time, Jamaicans must wonder why can't our road network be of a similar quality, is it not because we do not have the resources to build similar highways and byways everywhere?
REFLECT
So, as we ponder the coming year and others to come, we need to reflect on how we can find the right economic prescriptions to shift the reliance on import and consumption to production and export, in which 90 per cent of the fully loaded containers coming into our ports can leave with Jamaican produce instead of, as now happens, empty. Unless Jamaica finds ways and means to produce, develop and earn its way in the global economy, every other national goal will remain as elusive as ever.
Delroy Chuck is an
attorney-at-law and Opposition member of Parliament. He
can be contacted by email at delchuck@hotmail.com.
